EN 16: Total direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight & EN17: Other relevant indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight
Since 2008, Anvil has worked with Camco International to conduct the company’s yearly Organizational Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Assessment, or a full accounting of how and where energy is used in Anvil operations. We measured the greenhouse gas emissions from our facilities and, in accordance with internationally recognized voluntary accounting guidelines developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the World Resource Institute.
Anvil’s emissions footprint consists of eight main emissions source categories; purchased electricity and steam used on premises, energy consumption on premises, outgoing third-party deliveries, employee commuting, vehicle fuel use on premises, business travel, waste disposal, and fugitive emissions on premises such as refrigerant and fire extinguisher gas loss.
Scope 1 emissions from fuel used to generate power at our plants, power our company–owned vehicles and maintain our air conditioning equipment, are considered “direct” emissions by GRI guidelines. Scope 2 emissions from electricity we purchase from others in order to power our plants are considered “indirect” emissions by GRI. Scope 3 emissions from fuel used during employee travel and commuting, product delivery to customers and generated from waste disposed of in landfills. GRI’s guidelines require the reporting of Scope 1 and 2 (direct and indirect), while the gathering and reporting of Scope 3 is optional. In addition, because we use significant amounts of water, Anvil elected to measure water usage in the assessment; we analyzed the electricity required to treat and transport water. These calculations are referred to as “non-scope,” and we elected to disclose them as well. (The chart below indicates amounts for each scope.)
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Regarding Anvil’s emissions assessment, the CO2 emissions resulting from biomass combustion are excluded, while the CH4 and N2O are included according to the WBCSD/WRI GHG Protocol Corporate Standard. Wood waste-sourced CO2 is considered biogenic in origin and a portion of the “closed” carbon cycle, which refers to the release of carbon that was previously sequestered within a relatively recent time-frame. Emissions reporting methodology requires the reporting of emissions sourced from the “open” carbon cycle, which refers to the combustion of historically sequestered carbon that was originally in the form of fossil fuels. Accordingly, CO2 biomass related emissions are reported separately.
In the end, our GHG impact assessment for fiscal year 2010 showed an annualized emission equivalent of 59,357 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. In fiscal 2009, Anvil reported 42,523 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents and 45,748 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents for fiscal 2008.
Company emissions went up 32% in 2010 compared to 2009 due to higher production, a change in product mix to a higher percentage of dyed t-shirts (which utilize approximately twice the energy and three times the water than bleached shirts) and an 80% increase in outgoing deliveries, as the result of more accurate reporting in 2010 for delivery emissions.
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To read an even more detailed break down of the sources of our emissions see the 2008 Executive Summary and 2009 Executive Summary. For information about the emissions of our products, please read our answer to EN6 Energy Aspect.
EN18: Initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reductions achieved
Last year we set a goal of reducing emissions by 10% by the end of fiscal 2010.
Unfortunately, we were not able to meet that goal. That’s the bad news. The good news is we understand why. We see that as good news because understanding the cause is the first step in addressing the problem. For one, our emissions and the baseline for our emissions goals moving forward were calculated relative to our performance in 2008 and 2009, two years in which our production levels were hit hard by the economic downturn. To more accurately determine our emissions goals we should have based them on years that saw more normalized production levels, like 2010. In addition, this past year also brought us a new product mix—more dyed and colored t-shirts, and less basic white t-shirts than ever before. While the increase in colored t-shirts is more profitable for our business, these shirts also require more energy to produce. We are currently in the process of resetting energy goals so that they are more in line with the company we are today.
Still, most of our emissions continue to be associated with the direct and indirect energy we consume, and our strategy to reduce emissions remains the overall reduction of energy consumption. Specifically, we remain focused on the two principal energy sources—bunker oil and purchased electricity—because we believe this is where we can have the biggest impact. We also continue to seek out ways to reduce water usage, and to make the transporting of goods and materials generally more efficient, even though this represents a small percentage of our overall carbon footprint.
Reducing usage of bunker oil The wastewater heat recovery system that we installed four years ago continues to help us realize reductions in bunker oil by increasing the amount of heat we recycle thereby reducing the amount we need to produce. Our estimates indicate this system allowed us to save nearly 70,000 gallons of bunker oil. Last year, we stated it was our goal to have a proprietary bio-mass generation system in place at our Honduras textile plant by the end of 2012. In fact, this year we rented an existing bio-mass system that was already on the premises and are operating it daily. It is our hope that over the course of the next year we better understand the operation of such a machine, so that we can better understand it as we seek to purchase one outright next year.
Reducing electricity The energy-saving programs we instituted across the company continue to help reduce our overall use of electricity, yet we continue to look for new ways improve efficiency. For example, at our Honduras textile plant, we installed 10 motion detectors that automatically shut off lights several minutes after motion stops. And at out North Carolina textile facility, we saved 138,000 kwhs in 2010, as a result of overall procedural improvements that reduced the number of reworks needed. A more efficient manufacturing process overall means less energy needed. And though our cut-and-sew facilities in both Honduras and Nicaragua are less energy intensive, we still invested in and installed more than 400 new, energy-efficient sewing machine units. These changes, among various others, helped us achieve a 6% reduction in electricity usage at the cut-and-sew plants. While those improvements are significant, they were not enough to offset the overall 8% increase in electricity used, which was driven mostly by energy consumed at our textile plants. Which is why this year we’re focusing on even more electricity improvements, in particular at the textile plants. For example, we have already replaced more than 300 high intensity 400-watt lamps with more energy efficient 200 watt induction lamps at the Honduras textile facility. This change is estimated to save about 378,000 kwh per year moving forward. We also continue do serious research around both solar power and induction fluorescent solutions that we believe may enable us to realize even more savings in the future.
EN19: Emissions of ozone-depleting substances by weight
In 2010, Anvil reduced its use of ozone-depleting substances—specifically R-22 and R-12 refrigerants—by nearly 64% percent, from 470 lbs in 2009 to 170 lbs in 2010. The reduction was driven by improvements in preventive maintenance on the air conditioning units, where we primarily use such refrigerants.
EN20: NOx, SOx, and other significant air emissions by type and weight
The only Anvil facility with significant air emissions continues to be textile facility in Honduras. Here are the results of tests conducted during 2010:
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EN21: Total water discharge by quality and destination
In 2011, many of our private label customers made commitments following a Greenpeace campaign to eliminate all discharges of hazardous chemicals throughout their supply chain and across the entire lifecycle of their products by 2020. We make the same commitment and have started to work with a consultant to conduct an assessment of our chemical management system to support this goal.
Our Honduras textile facility is located in an industrial park with a highly efficient, advanced on- site water treatment plant. The wastewater is cleaned using bacteria and other natural agents, such as ozone, to remove or degrade chemical, biological and physical effluents. Once cleaned, the water is released into the nearby Chamelecon River.
Our garment dye plant in North Carolina discharges water into the local POTW, which treats a combination of domestic and industrial wastewaters. The plant is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, and achieved a compliance level of 100% with NPDES Permit requirements.
As we have done for years, Anvil not only complies with local and private label water effluent requirements, we seek to go beyond them. The below charts indicate the amount of water discharged by destination.
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For information regarding total water withdrawal, water sources significantly affected, and amount of water recycled or reused, please read our response to EN8-EN10 under the Water Aspect of this Section. You will also find a summary of our recent Water Footprint Results following EN9.
EN22: Total weight of waste by type and disposal method
Reducing the amount of waste we create, and recycling as much as possible, are important focuses for Anvil. We have implemented extensive recycling programs at all three of our manufacturing plants, and these have been in place for a number of years. From cardboard boxes to yarn cones to plastic palettes on which yarn arrives, everything that can be recycled…is! At our cut and sew facilities, we recycle sewing needles, cutting knives, plastic thread cones, bags, cartons and more. And at our corporate and distribution offices we also recycled printer cartridges, plastic bottles, cans, cardboard and pallets.
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We’re pleased to report that in 2010, we reduced the total amount of landfill waste by nearly 25% due to greater recycling efforts in all facilities, even in a year that saw more than a 35% increase in production. Surpassing last year’s target of a 5% reduction in waste!
New Ways to Reduce Waste In 2010, we began collecting electronic waste, primarily fluorescent light tubes and obsolete computer equipment, and sending them to a local Honduran recycling company that either reuses, donates or safely and properly disposes of such equipment. We continue to look for innovative ways to reduce the amount of waste we produce and increase recycling efforts across all Anvil facilities.
Zero- waste Goal Moving forward, it is our goal to achieve a zero landfilled waste stream by fiscal by 2020. We are currently developing a plan with yearly milestones for this goal and will report with greater detail during Anvil’s next report.
EN23: Total number and volume of significant spills
To the best of our knowledge, Anvil has had no material spills at any facility during 2008 and 2009.
EN24: Weight of transported, imported, exported, or treated waste deemed hazardous under the terms of the Basel Convention Annex I, II, III, and VIII, and percentage of transported waste shipped internationally
Anvil does not generate hazardous waste, as defined by GRI, at any of its facilities.
EN25: Identity, size, protected status, and biodiversity value of water bodies and related habitats significantly affected by the reporting organization’s discharges of water and runoff
According to GRI, a body of water is significantly impacted if discharges account for more than 5 percent of its annual volume, or if the discharge itself could significantly impact the body of water, neither of which is the case for any Anvil facility.
